Adjustable spring mount and clamp for radial drill sleeves



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ADJUSTABLE SPRING MOUNT AND CLAMP FOR RADIAL DRILL SLEEVES Filed Nov. 22. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Suva/ 60x 04 W0 6. MAM/MUM.

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ADJUSTABLE SPRING MOUNT AND CLAMP FOR RADIAL DRILL SLEEVES Filed NOV. 22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z Il 9: i

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ADJUSTABLE SPRING MOUNT AND CLAMP FOR RADIAL DRILL SLEEVES Filed Nov. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gvwentoz May 29, 1934. o. c. KLAUSMEYER ADJUSTABLE SPRING MOUNT AND CLAMP FOR RADIAL DRILL SLEEVES Filed Nov. .22, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 awuemtoz 04 W0 c. 164/! 06114575.

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EX 6 U 70/? Patented May 29, 1934 FFHCE ADJUSTABLE SPRING MQUNT AND CLAMP FOR RADIAL DRILL SLEEVES David C. Klausmeyer, deceased, late of Cincinnati, Ohio, by H. Henry Sundermann, executor, Cincinnati,

Ohio, assignor to The Cincinnati Bickford Tool Company, Cincinnati, ()hio, a

corporation of Ohio Application November 22, 1930, ,Serial No. 497,587

10 Claims.

This invention deals with machine tools and it relates more particularly to improved means for adjustably mounting the arm-supporting member of a radial drill ,on its supporting post or base and for securely clamping said member thereto during a drilling operation.

One conventional type of radial drill comprises an upright post upon which is rotatably mounted an arm-supporting sleeve and, for convenience, this invention will be shown and described in connection with that type of radial drill. It is to be understood, however, that, in its broader as- ,pects, the invention is not limited to that type of drilling :machine but may be embodied in other machine tools and in other well known types of drilling machines.

Various forms of clamping devices heretofore have been provided for clamping the arm-supporting member (hereinafter called the sleeve) to itssupport (hereinafter called thepost). One of the mostsatisfactory types of clamps, especially for large drills is that in whichthe sleeve is formed, at its lower ,end, with a flange, the lower face of which is adapted to be clamped upon the upper horizontal face of a platform provided by the post, suitable means being provided for forcing those .faces into engagement. A clamping device of this nature is disclosed in United States Patent #1505399.

To reduce the friction between the complemental faces of the .fiange and platform, when the clamp is released, thereby to facilitateswinging of the radial arm, it has heretofore been proposed to. embody in the structurespring means adapted slightlyto separate said faces. Means also have been provided for adjusting the spring means to compensate ,for the different loadsapplied thereto due, for example, to varying weights of different drill heads, tools, etc.

One difficulty heretofore experienced with this type of support and clamp was that, undercartain conditions, the spring device Wouldeifect sufficicnt separation of the flange and platform to cause one of said elements ,to bind on the I clamping means therebyrendering diflicult the swinging of the arm.

This invention has for an object to overcome the inherent defects in prior construction of this nature and to render available an improved c0nstruction in which the effectiveness of thesupporting spring readilyrnay-be varied without effecting separation of :the flange and platform andwithout causing eitherto bind on the clamping means.

heretofore it has also been proposed to provide which the radial arm projects, a plurality ,of f

laterally adjustable rollers individually and adapted to engage an annular track on the post to reduce the friction caused by the lateral thrust of the sleeve on the post due to the tendency of the outer end of the radial arm to swingdown- I wardly under its own weight and the weight of the drill-head thereon. The lateral adjustment of the rollers is employed to cause themto .bear with greater or less force on the annular track as may be required due to differences of leverage s afforded by the differences in the lengths of outer endof the arm that the sleeve binds on the post when the drill head is moved adjacent the sleeve. The cause for this was exceedingly diificult to comprehend inasmuch as, in both positions, the arm and drill head were at the same side of the axis of the post and the forces were in the same direction, only to differentde- .grees. After much study and experimenting, it was discovered that, due to the excessive stresses placed upon the rollers, their supporting studs and the track when the drill head is adjusted to the outer end of the arm, thoseelements were compressed or deflected to such anextent that, whenrelieved of the major portion of their load, by moving the drill head to a position adjacent the column, the parts would resume their normal shapes and positions thereby drawing the opposite side of the sleeve forcibly into contact with the post and causing it to bind thereon.

This invention provides an improved sleeve 'mount by means of which the above described dimculty is overcome and the sleeve is maintained freely rotatable on the post regardless of the position of the drill head.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawings.

1T0 enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereofthat they may embody the same in the variousways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:-

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a portion of a radial drill embodying the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a left end view partly in section, of a portion of the radial drill shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the post and sleeve showing the improved means for supporting the latter on the former. Fig. 5 is a view in plan of the sleeve and a portion of the arm supported thereon. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the clamp ring, later to be referred to. Fig. 7 is a left edge view of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a right edge view of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is a section substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 5. Fig. 10 is a detail showing the adjustable mounting of one of the anti-friction bearings for the sleeve, later to be referred to; and Fig. 11 is a detail plan of the means for securing the bearing in its adjusted positions.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the invention is disclosed as embodied in a radial drill comprising a base B, a column C arising therefrom and consisting of a post P and a sleeve S rotatably supported thereon, a radial arm A, having a girdle portion slidingly fitted upon said sleeve, and a drill head D translatably mounted on said arm. Means, designated generally as 1:, serve to clamp the arm to the sleeve in various positions of vertical adjustment to which the arm may be moved by suitable mechanism of which only the translating screw 8 is shown.

Power to rotate the tool spindle, carried by the drill head, and to effect vertical movement of the arm may be provided by a motor M mounted on the rear end of the arm, as shown in Fig. 1, or if desired it may be located at the foot of the column with the usual power transmission shafts extending into the base of the column and upwardly therethrough as shown, for example, in United States Patent No. 1,622,725.

At its upper end, the post is fitted with a block 1 of high grade metal, in the nature of a hub, fixed to the post by screws 2. In effect, the block 1 is a part of the post. An anti-friction bearing 3, fitted between the cylindrical outer surface of the block 1 and an inner annular bearing surface 4 formed in the sleeve S, serves to maintain the upper ends of the post and sleeve truly coaxial and permits free rotation of the sleeve on the post. Intermediate its ends the post is formed with a first cylindrical bearing surface 5 and a second and enlarged cylindrical bearing surface 6. These bearing surfaces are engaged by complemental bearing surfaces 7 and 8 provided on the inner face of the sleeve S, the latter one being formed in the cuff c of the sleeve. Thus the lower end of the sleeve also is maintained truly coaxial with the post P.

At its lower end the sleeve S is formed with an annular flange 9 affording a lower horizontal surface 10 and an upwardly inclined surface 11. Adjacent the flange 9 the post is formed with an annular platform 12 affording an upper horizontal surface 13, complemental to the surface 10, and a surface 14 inclined conversely to the surface 11.

The sleeve S is normally supported on the post P to produce no appreciable friction between the surfaces 10 and 13. This is effected by interposing between the upper end of the post and a cap 15 fixed to the upper end of the sleeve, a heavy coil spring 16 capable of sustaining the weight of the sleeve and the parts carried thereby. To compensate for varying loads, the tension of the spring is made adjustable, by means later to be described, whereby the Weight normally transmitted to the platform 12 by the flange 9, and consequently the friction therebetween, may be maintained substantially constant under materially different loads. If desired, the tension of the spring may be so adjusted that normally no pressure will be exerted by the flange 9 on the platform 12 and the surfaces 10 and 13 may be very slightly separated to produce a gap therebetween of, for example, about .002 of an inch.

Prior to a drilling operation, the sleeve S is depressed firmly upon the post in opposition to the spring 16. At this time the surface 10 is moved into engagement with, or more forcibly depressed upon, the surface 13 dependent upon whether the surfaces had previously been slightly separated or the pressure therebetween merely relieved. When thus firmly seated upon the annular platform, the sleeve becomes virtually a unit of the post and a true reinforcement thereof effectively to resist all stresses tending to deflect the column. The means for accomplishing the transfer of Weight and for effecting clamping of the sleeve to the post may consist of a split ring 17 having sections 17 and 17 joined together by links 17, as shown in Fig. 6. This split ring has an internal V-shaped groove 17 adapted to engage the conversely flaring surfaces 11 and 14 provided by the flange 9 and platform 12, respectively. Contraction of the ring 17, to effect clamping action, is effected by a draw bolt 18 hav ing one end in the form of an eye surrounding an eccentric 19 formed on a shaft 20 journaled at one end in the ring section 17 The opposite end of the draw bolt passes through an aperture in the ring section 17 and has secured to it a nut 21. The shaft 20, and eccentric 19 carried thereby, may be turned, to actuate the clamp, by means of a hand lever 22 carried by the drill head. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 9, this hand lever is journaled upon a stub shaft 23 and rotates a pinion 24 which meshes with rack teeth formed in one end of a bar 25 slidingly mounted in the drill head. The opposite end of the bar 25 is provided with rack teeth which engage a pinion 26 splined upon a shaft 27 journaled lengthwise of the arm. At its rear end the shaft 27 has fixed to it a pinion 28 which engages rack teeth arranged on the underside of a bar 29 slidingly mounted in a bracket 30 secured to the rear end of the arm. Adjacent the forward end of the bar 29, and on the side thereof, there are formed rack teeth which engage the teeth of a segment 31 splined upon the shaft 20 and adapted to be moved vertically with the arm A by the bracket 30.

The means for varying the tension of the spring 16, without effecting any substantial axial movement of the sleeve on the post which, in prior constructions, has resulted in binding of the parts, will now be described. As shown most clearly in Fig. 4, the spring 16 surrounds an intermediate portion of a sleeve 32, provided at its lower end with an annular flange 33. This flange rests upon an anti-friction thrust bearing 34 seated upon a spacing ring 35 which in turn rests upon one element of the bearing 3. The upper portion 32 of the sleeve 32 is reduced in diameter and passes through an opening 15 in the sleeve cap 15. To vary the tension of the spring 16 thereby to compost.

pensate for varying loads on the arm, screws 36, threaded through the cap 15, engage a ring 37 supported upon the upper end of the spring. It will readily be perceived that inward movement of the screws will compress the spring thereby increasing its tension. Unless prevented, this would react through the screws. to elevate the sleeve. It has been this reaction in prior constructions which has opened the gap between the flange 9 and the platform 12 and has caused those elements to bind on the clamp ring and which also rendered clamping difficult inasmuch as the spring was required to be compressed materially before the clamping surfaces were brought together.

This invention provides means for preventing upward movement of the sleeve under the reaction of the spring whereby the friction between the faces 10 and 13 of the flange and platform or the gap therebetween may be maintained constant regardless of the load imposed upon the spring. This is effected by securing upon that portion of the sleeve which projects above the cap a thrust element 38 adapted to engage a finished face 15 of the cap. Preferably the thrust element 38 will be in the nature of a nut threaded upon the sleeve 32. By adjusting the nut 38 on the sleeve 32 the distance between the face 15 of the cap 15 and the face 13 of the platform may be varied thereby determining the friction between the faces 10 and 13, or the gap therebetween, as may be desired. When once so adjusted that distance will remain fixed and the friction, or gap, between the faces 10 and 13 will not be changed by variations in tension of the spring 16.

A plate 39 secured to the uppermost end of the sleeve 32 by screws 40 overlies the nut 38 and limits its adjustment outwardly.

The block 1, sleeve 32 and plate 39 are each shown as provided with a central bore through which a power transmission shaft may be passed when the machine is equipped with the motor M located at the base of the column.

To maintain the sleeve freely rotatable on the post, regardless of the weight or position of the drill head on the arm A, this invention proposes the provision of two sets of individually adjustable anti-friction bearings carried by the cuff c of the sleeve and engaging an annular track 41 preferably of high grade metal provided by the One set of anti-friction bearings is arranged at the side of the sleeve to which the arm projects and comprises rollers 42 and 43 mounted on eccentric portions 44 of pivot pins 45 journaled in the cuff c, as shown in Fig. 10. By slightly turning the pivot pins, by applying a suitable tool to the upper hexagonal end thereof, the rollers may be adjusted laterally to ease the pressure more or less on the bearings 5 and 6. A plate 45 fitted to the upper hexagonal end of each of the pivot pins 45 and held against rotation by a screw 45, passing through a slot 45 therein, serves to hold the pivot pin against rotation and thereby maintains the roller in its adjusted position. The slot 45 in the plate 45 permits very fine adjustment of the rollers. The rollers 42 and 43 are adapted to transmit to the track 41 the lateral thrusts caused by the tendency of the outer end of the arm to swing downwardly, amplified by the weight of the drill head thereon when adjusted to positions remote from the column.

As hereinbefo-re stated, in machines in which the arm is long and the drill-head is extremely heavy a tremendous compressive force is placed on the rollers 42 and 43, their pivot pins and the track 41, thereby causing those elements to be compressed or deflected a substantial degree, which, when relieved by adjusting the head to a position adjacent the column, acts to draw the opposite side of the cuff forcibly into engagement with the post. To prevent binding of the sleeve on the post under this reaction, this invention proposes the provision, at the side of the sleeve remote from the arm, of a second set of antifriction bearings 46 and 47 journaled on eccentric portions of pivot pins 48 and 49 carried by the cuff c. These bearings also are adapted to engage the annular track 41 and are individually adjustable similarly to the bearings 42 and 43. The bearings 46 and 47 arexso positioned with respect to the track 41 that when the drill head is adjacent the column, and the strains on the bearings 42 and 43 are released, the bearings 46 and 47 will engage the track and thereby prevent binding between the bearing surfaces 5 and 7, and 6 and 8 at the side of the column opposite to that to which the arm projects.

Inasmuch as this construction precludes all binding between the flange 9 and the platform 12, and between those elements and the clamp ring when the clamp is released, and also precludes binding between the sleeve and post due to lateral thrusts caused by the overhang of the arm and the weight of the drill head, the arm and sleeve are maintained freely rotatable about the post under all adjustments of thespring 16 and in all positions of the drill head on the arm.

Furthermore, due to the fact the surfaces 10 and 13 of the flange 9 and platform 12 are always maintained in contact, or substantially so, substantially the entire force applied manually to the lever 22 is used for clamping and not for compressing the supporting spring, as in prior constructions. Therefore the sleeve may be securely clamped by the application of only a slight pressure on the lever 22.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims:-

Having thus revealed this invention, there is claimed as new and desired to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United States:-

1. A radial drill combining a post; a sleeve rotatably journaled thereon and having a cap 4 ed to act on said spring to increase its tension;

and a nut threaded upon the portion of said member projecting through said cap, said nut engaging said cap to prevent upward movement of said sleeve when the tension of said spring is increased. 7

2. A radial drill combining a support providing an annular track; a member rotatably journaled on said support; an arm projecting radially from said member; a tool head translatably mounted on said arm; a pair of spaced and adjustable anti-friction bearings intermediate said support and said member and engaging said track beneath said arm at the side of said member only where it exerts lateral pressure on said support when said tool head is adjusted on said arm to positions remote from said member, said bearings being arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane parallel with the arm and intersecting the axis of said support; a second pair of adjustable antifriction bearings mounted on said member and engaging said support at the side thereof remote from said arm, said second pair of anti-friction bearings being arranged on opposite sides of said plane and serving to prevent binding between the support and member under stresses produced by the expansion of metal when the tool head is adjusted on the arm to positions adjacent said member; and means permitting individual ad justment of said anti-friction bearings.

3. A radial drill combining a post having an enlarged lower portion; a sleeve rotatably journaled on said post and having an unbroken cuff surrounding said enlarged portion, an arm projecting radially from said sleeve; a tool head translatably mounted on said arm; an annular track formed on the enlarged portion of said post; first and second pairs of anti-friction bearings adjustably supported by the cuff portion of said sleeve and adapted to be adjusted laterally into engagement with said track to effect free rotation of said sleeve, said first pair of anti-friction bearings being located beneath said arm and at the side of the sleeve where it exerts a lateral thrust on said post and being adjustable to counteract the weight of the tool head, said second pair of anti-friction bearings being located at the side of said sleeve remote from said arm and serving to prevent binding between said sleeve and post when said tool head is adjacent said sleeve, the bearings of each of said pairs being arranged on opposite sides of a vertical plane parallel with said arm and intersecting the axis of said post; means permitting individual adjustment of each of said anti-friction bearings laterally and relative to said track; and means to maintain each of said bearings in its adjusted positions.

4. In a radial drill having an upright post, an element rotatably journaled on said post and provided with a horizontally extending arm, and a tool head translatably mounted on said arm; a first series of adjustably mounted anti-friction bearings carried by said element at the side thereof to which the arm extends and adapted to transmit to said post the lateral thrust of said element in one direction; means whereby the position of the bearings of said series may be adjusted to effect free rotation of said element when said drill head is shifted to a position adj acent the outer end of said arm; a second series of adjustably mounted anti-friction bearings carried by said element at the side thereof remote from said arm and adapted to transmit to said post thrusts in a direction opposite to the first mentioned direction; and means whereby the position of the bearings of said second series may be adjusted to effect free rotation of said element when said drill head is shifted to a position adjacent said element.

5. A radial drill combining a post; a horizontally disposed clamping surface provided thereby; a sleeve rotatably journaled on said post and having a clamping surface complemental to the first named clamping surface; means interposed between said sleeve and the upper end of said post for yieldingly supporting the former on the latter with said clamping surfaces in predetermined relation, said means including a member slidably connected intermediate its ends with said sleeve and having at its lower end an operative connection with said post to transmit to the latter the weight of said sleeve; a first abutment on the lower end of said member; a spring interposed between said abutment and said sleeve; means carried by said sleeve for varying the tension of said spring; and a second abutment on the upper end of said member engaging a portion of said sleeve to limit upward movement of the sleeve and thereby prevent excessive separation of said clamping surfaces when the tension of said spring is increased.

6. A radial drill combining a post; a horizontally disposed clamping surface provided thereby; a sleeve rotatably journaled on said post and having a clamping surface complemental to the first named clamping surface; spring means interposed between the upper end of said post and the upper end of said sleeve for yieldingly supporting the latter on the former; clamp means acting in opposition to said spring means for forcing said clamping surfaces into clamping contact; means to increase the tension of said spring means without increasing the friction between said sleeve and post, comprising a member projecting through a wall of said sleeve and having an abutment engaged by said spring means intermediate the latter and said post; an adjusting screw threaded through said sleeve and acting upon said spring means to increase the tension thereof; and a second abutment on said member engaging an upper wall of said sleeve and resisting upward movement of said sleeve relative to said member, said member, abutments, spring means and adjusting screw being rotatable with said sleeve.

7. A radial drill combining a post; a sleeve rotatably journaled thereon and having a portion overlying the upper end of said post; a member extending through the overlying portion of said sleeve; a thrust element on the inner end of said member; a thrust bearing between said element and the upper end of said post for supporting said member on said post; a spring beneath said portion surrounding said member and engaging said thrust element thereby yieldably transmitting the weight of the sleeve to the post; an adjusting screw threaded through the overlying portion of said sleeve and adapted to act on said spring to increase its tension; and a second thrust element on the outer portion of said member engaging an upper surface of said sleeve to limit upward movement of the sleeve when the tension of said spring is increased.

-8. In a'radial drill, a post; a sleeve rotatably journaled thereon; a member extending through an upper wall of said sleeve and having an abutment on its inner end; a thrust bearing intermediate said member and said post for supporting the former on the latter, a spring surrounding said member and engaging said abutment and having an operative connection with the upper wall of said-sleeve for yieldingly supporting said sleeve on said member and on said post; means to vary the tension of said spring; and a second abutment on the outer portion of said member and engaging the upper wall of said sleeve to prevent upward movement of said sleeve when the tension of said spring is increased.

9. In a radial drill, a post; a sleeve rotatably journaled thereon and provided with an upper wall; a member slidingly carried by said upper wall and adapted to be supported by said post said member having a flange thereon; spring means interposed between said flange and the upper wall of said sleeve to yieldingly support said sleeve on said post; means carried by said sleeve for varying the tension on said spring means; and an abutment carried by said member and engaging the outer face of the upper wall of said sleeve to prevent relative axial movement between said sleeve and member when the tension on said spring means is increased.

10. A radial drill combining a post; a sleeve rotatably mounted on said post; an element carried by and rotatable with said sleeve interposed between said post and said sleeve to transmit to the former the weight of the latter; spring means interposed between a portion of said element and a portion of said sleeve to cause a limited upward movement of said sleeve relative to said element and to said post and yieldingly to support said sleeve on said post; complemental horizontally disposed clamping surfaces provided by said post and sleeve; clamp means adapted to draw said sleeve downwardly in opposition to said spring means thereby to create friction between said clamping surfaces; adjustable means carried by said sleeve to vary the tension on said spring means; and means carried by said element and rotatable with said sleeve for limiting upward movement of said sleeve on said post under the action of said adjustable means on the spring.

H. HENRY SUNDERMANN, Executor of David C'. Klausmeyer, Deceased. 

